How to Make a Pair of Comanche Stitch Beaded Earrings

Comanche stitch is a beading weave created by Native Americans. It is used to make earrings and even necklaces. The nice thing about Comanche stitch is that it lets you be creative with patterns as well as colors.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Size 11 seed beads
• Medium-sized bugle beads
• Size D beading thread
• Size 11 beading needle
• Beeswax
• Scissors

1. Cut a long length of beading thread and pull it over the beeswax. This will make your thread strong and less likely fray or break.

2. Thread your beading needle and tie a knot in the end.

3. Thread 2 bugle beads onto your thread. Put your needle up through the bottom of the first one and then down through the top of the second one. This should put the bugle beads together.

4. Thread another bugle bead. Then go through the top of the bugle bead before it and up through the bottom of the new bugle bead. Repeat this process until you have several bugle beads woven together. How many depends on how large you want your earrings to be, but do least 5 bugle beads.

5. Once you’ve completed the row then take your needle and weave it back through the entire row. This will ensure the row won't unravel. Once you’ve put your needle up through the bottom of the first bugle bead again, trim the tail of your thread. You are ready to start the next row. For this you will need seed beads.

6. Thread 1 seed bead on your needle until it is laying flat on top of your bugle bead row. Note the stitches at the top connecting the bugle beads together. Take your needle and slip it under the first stitch and then up through your seed bead. This will stitch that bead to the top of your bugle row. Repeat this step for each of the stitches on top of the row of the bugle bead row.

7. Notice how the seed beads have the same kind of stitches at the top of your second row. However, you’ll also notice there are fewer stitches. This is normal. Repeat Step 6 until you are at the top and only two seed beads remain in the top row.

8. Thread 6 seed beads onto your needle and then pull your needle through the first 3. This should create a loop for you to put an earring hook on.

9. Pull the loop tight against the seed beads. Weave your needle back down through the second seed bead, and then back through the weaving until you can take your needle back through the first bugle in the bugle bead row.

10. String whatever number of beads you would like for fringe and add 3 seed beads to the bottom. Take your needle back through the bead just before you add the 3 seed beads. Then go back up through that entire bangle and back through the first bugle bead. This leaves a nifty little loop at the bottom of your bangle. Take your needle down through the second bugle bead and repeat the process until you have bangles under each bugle bead.

11. Weave the needle back through the seed beads and cut it. Repeat this tutorial for your second earring and add earring hooks. You’ve completed your first pair of Comanche stitch earrings.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase some graph paper and create your own patterns once you understand how Comanche stitch works.
• Purchase or borrow a book of Comanche stitch patterns, there are hundreds available.
• Find a color wheel online and use it to choose color schemes that are attractive.
• Sometimes you’ll discover you can’t put your needle through a bead anymore as you already have too many times when weaving back through the earring. Do your best not to go through the same bead every time.